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SALT LAKE CITY — Parents and teachers rallied at the Capitol on Tuesday to petition the Legislature for more funding to allow a statewide school art program.
The Beverly Taylor Sorensen Arts Learning Program has been implemented into several magnet schools throughout the state to teach art, dance and music. However, the funding for the program was reduced by 50 percent in 2012.
Lisa Cluff, representative for Friends of Artworks for Kids, planned to lead a rally on Tuesday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. to gain support for increasing funds for the program.
"We are looking at having an arts specialist covering more than one school, and having an arts endorsement for teachers so they can learn how to integrate the arts into the classroom themselves," Cluff said. "The specialist would help the teacher with their lesson plans."
Cluff said that if the Legislature will continue to fund the program, the Friends of Artworks for Kids organization plans to expand the program to all the schools statewide within five years. She said several studies have shown that music, dance and art improve behavior, attendance and test scores, and that the Beverly Taylor Sorensen Arts Learning Program is important to student success.
Cluff emphasized the importance of parents and educators attending the rally to increase the chance of funding for the program.
"We presented to the education committee recently, and one of the representatives said she receives more letters regarding this program than anything else, and that was really impressive to her," Cluff said. "It does help to hear parents' voices."
